Even if we are only at the beginning of this revolution and the category is very much growing, the trend is signaling that fitness wearables per se are not nearly enough to make people replace their old habits with new, healthier ones.

A studyconducted by Endeavour Partners shows that, as of June 2014, about a third of owners of smart wearables still abandon these devices after six months.

If we want to become healthier, experience more wellness, balance and ultimately more happiness, we have to get on a path of behavioral change.

Technology (wearables and apps) can provide a powerful platform for qualified health, fitness and wellness practitioners of all stripes to help people make sustainable, long term changes via a data driven approach with a human touch.

What is your personal experience of the impact of wearable technologies on fitness & wellness?

Wearable devices such as FitBit, Nike’s Fuel Band, Jawbone Up, Body Media Fit and the upcoming Amiigo (just to mention few among the very many), are being hailed as revolutionary tools to put people in charge of their health and fitness. These devices capture and provide insightful data like heart rate, calories burned, stress level, sleep, exercise and even eating patterns. Together with smart phones and GPS devices they also feed another layer of cool apps like Strava, Runtastic, Mapmyfitness and many more (over 10,000 Health and Fitness apps exist on Apple store alone) that add a social-network motivational component to the user experience. Other apps like Myfitnesspal help users track the food they eat and their calorie intake. Gympact, Everymove and such offer external incentives to reward personal healthy choices. Continue reading